Texas_Ace BLF Calibrated Lumen tube / Sphere No math skills needed - Several spheres still available

Sounds good, keep us posted!

I think there is only one discrepancy, which is that there IS some math needed, but only for the moment. This can be fixed, it just just takes a bit of time.

No one is doing or suggesting this.

All of these tubes ARE calibrated to each other. So once we get an accurate correction factor we will be getting back to fairly accurate lumen numbers (meaning plus or minus 5%).

Then it will be relatively easy to get the tube back to reading accurately with no math. It’s really not that big a deal as far as I’m concerned. I was hoping I could get accurate numbers right now, but it seems I will have to wait a bit longer.

Just for perspective, check out the cost and work involved in using a proper integrating sphere by this company that tests their bike lights. It’s pretty crazy (and crazy expensive).

The tubes that TA is making is, without a doubt, a true bargain. Especially when you consider how consistent it is with both floody and throwy lights and how simple, fast and easy it is to use compared to a professional sphere.

Tn42vn90 skylumen 5000 lumen
TA lumen. 5000 lumen

Deerelight xsvn. Skylumen 250 lumen
TA lumen. 230 lumen

Tn42vn olson. Skylumen 700-850 lumen
TA lumen. 848 lumen

All the measurement are fresh off charger and 30 seconds…

I hope the above commenters don’t mind if I don’t respond to their claims that since it is a relatively low cost item we should not expect it to be accurate.

TA, regarding your response, I appreciate it. I intend to wait a bit to see how this progresses. I have a few HDS calibrated lights as do other’s in this thread, our readings are fairly close (to each other, not to reality), about 38% off from HDS published numbers for my tube personally.

Do we know what Vinh used to get those numbers? I seem to remember him describing a $25 lux-meter at one point.

If we’re not working with calibrated equipment like HDS’ or Maukka’s everything else is just the blind leading the blind and pretty close to an educated guess at best.

To be honest I am impressed and quite happy with the consistency, that proves the concept is solid, it just needs proper calibration. Thus far is appears that my +/-5% goal is holding up to the real world.

Now I just need to get the calibration right.

I don’t know what skylumen use… i am going to retest more lights again with the fully charged 18650/26650.,

Probably acebeam L16, lumintop odf30, thrunite tc20, fenix tk35ue, blf gt, and fenix tk15. I will try to use manufacture cells. So that’s way it is fair…,

Are the “TA Lumens” you post here from the TA Lumen Tube exactly as you received it? No correction factor or additional plastic or wax paper over the sensor??

If so…. it seems to raise more questions as to any applicable possible correction factor and/or the accuracy of the stated lumens of the lights mentioned by their makers or modders.

Why are your measurements so low? Are you using a correction factor, if so, what number?

For you to get around 5000 lumen, your TA tube would need to be reading about 6750 lumen. Is that what your getting?

I don’t recall anyone saying this, much less two or more. Did I miss something? I’m pretty sure I would have noticed if this was said.

I think I do understand what you are saying / trying to say, Ozythemandias. :+1: BUT, it does appear the the tubes are calibrated very closely with each other. It just seems, at this point; they were not calibrated with lights of true known values. They were calibrated with lights of assumed lumen values… :frowning:

BUT…… The upside is, as TA stated; once he gets a light or lights of true known lumen output & figures out a true correction factor based on these lights…… it should be very easy for us to calibrate all of our tubes accordingly. :+1:

I have no doubt TA will accomplish this. Stuff happens & this is but a bump in the road I think…… :slight_smile:

I totally agree Ozythemandias…… until there is a conversion factor worked out with lights of a known accurate lumen output, this is all a crap shoot not based on reality. :wink:

@ JasonWW……… That is a very interesting & informative video you posted about Integrated Spheres!! Thank you for sharing that……. :+1:

I wonder if that is similar to what Maukka has???

I am envious………. :smiley: . :smiley:

I have a few lights and drop-in’s from Randy Brogden @PFlexPro with the test sheets. https://www.pflexpro.com/Flashlight-Real-lumen-output-s/1839.htm

Excellent…. looks to me info like this would be very valuable information. :slight_smile:

Personally…… I have no lights that are verifiable. :frowning:

With or without the plastic bag mod? Or were these results mathematically corrected?

Since results are being posted with and without correction methods, I think it can be a bit confusing here if results are posted without stating one or the other.

I mentioned many times. The only thing I did was put one layer of grocery plastic on the light meter sensor. That’s all.

I know nothing… all I did was put one plastic and tape it to secure the meter… I fully charged the battery and turn on the light and get the reading @ 30 seconds…

OK great……thank’s for clarifying that, unless noted otherwise; all of your posted results will be of your particular plastic bag ’fix’ to your TA Tube. This is important……

So that means your results are a corrected measurement you came up with to correct your tube to lights you either know, or assume to know; their tested or advertised lumen rating…
BUT… not a measurement from the TA Tube as you received it.

Interesting stuff I'm learning. Anyone else besides HDS Systems and pflexpro that calibrated each light they sell? pflexpro offers tested lights for as little as $60 (modified Convoy S2+). From what I see on their website, they don't necessarily fine-tune the output, but instead give you a sheet telling you what the output measured on their integrating sphere.

So far even if the tubes aren’t accurate, they are calibrated consistently and very easy to use. There simply isn’t another similar premade product available under a few thousand dollars that can allow us to so easily measure lumens like this can. So even if I knew from the start, it wasn’t going to be accurate but at least consistent, I would still buy it and calibrate it myself because I’m not going to go through the trouble to research and build my own. It is normal for retail products to not be perfect upon initial release regardless of whether it is a Chinese flashlight company or a premium American brand. Even Apple/Android/Microsoft/Tesla/Sony have to constantly release updates/patches to fix bugs after the initial release as problems are discovered.

I know TA tried his very best in this endeavor and given his reputation here, I’m sure he will come up with a good simple solution given some time.

I have two S2+ 219b triples from PflexPro that came with lumen graphs. But I swapped the optics so I’ll have to change it back to test it. Will post results at a later date.